Arsenal have an option to buy back the Spaniard as part of the deal that took him to the Nou Camp in 2011 but currently appear unlikely to do so, leaving the door open for their London rivals to move for the 27-year-old.

Blues boss Mourinho has not confirmed a bid is imminent but did admit that he was monitoring the situation closely.

"We have some interest," Mourinho told several national newspapers. "We have some interest. I have interest in analysing the situation.

"I think it looks like he's really interested in leaving Barcelona, and is very, very interested in coming back to England. This I think is clear.

"After that it's not something for us, or another team, for now. It's not for now, or tomorrow, or for before the World Cup.

"There is a process where he wants to leave, he wants to come to England because it's the country where he wants to be, where he prefers to play. We are interested in monitoring the situation."Mourinho on Fabregas

"Everybody wants it, (owner) Mr Abramovich - the number one, the most important person - wants very much Frank to be back, I want him to be back, the staff want him back, so he comes back for sure.

"And the other thing is that he can come back the way he wants.

"Mr Abramovich has left the door completely open for him on the understanding Frank can do anything he wants at this club. He can try things, feel where he is better suited, we can feel as a club where he can give us more, but he can come back when he wants and, to repeat Mr Abramovich's words, the way he wants.

"He can be a coach, he can start at the academy, he can start being my assistant at the same time because he is doing his coaching badges, or he can start in a different role.

"He can decide in this moment whether he wants to start immediately in a coaching role, or if he wants to be an ambassador, representing the club in important places of our life - he can do what he wants."